(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement after the Department of Justice announced it is implementing new guidelines to make more non-violent drug offenders eligible for clemency:

“The President has authority to grant clemency to certain individuals who are no longer dangerous to the community. But I hope President Obama is not seeking to change sentencing policy unilaterally. Congress, not the President, has authority to make sentencing policy. He should continue to work with Congress rather than once again going it alone, and I’m willing to work with the President on these issues.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), current member and former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement after the Department of Justice announced it is implementing new guidelines to make more non-violent drug offenders eligible for clemency:

“The President has authority to grant clemency to certain individuals who are no longer dangerous to the community. But I hope President Obama is not seeking to change sentencing policy unilaterally. Congress, not the President, has authority to make sentencing policy. He should continue to work with Congress rather than once again going it alone, and I’m willing to work with the President on these issues.”